Daily Archives: December 19

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(Hopefully) Not Too Late Christmas Tips

You Can Make this a Special Christmas

At Christmas time, the mall is particularly stressful.

I mean the crowds are massive and stifling, the parking is horrible, the merchandise are disgustingly overpriced.

Christmas never used to be this way.  It used to be special.  The glittery, dreamy, new-clothes-new-shoes-lots-of-gifts-and-sparkles kiddy kind of special.

(Or is it because, then, I was not in charge (and not spending)?)

But I have grown up (as I must) and now it is my turn to make it special for my brood.

(And I wonder, was it stressful too for my mom and dad, or is it more stressful now because the world has become more fast-paced, more guilt-ridden, more material-focused?)

So ever since the countdown for Christmas began, I have been on the lookout for other alternative ways to give or buy gifts without breaking the bank or losing my sanity.  Here are some of my picks:

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Guest Post: The Way to San Jose

Endless Sun

You might want to know the following jargon to understand (or rent or buy) into the San Jose real estate market, or into any real estate market:

If you are renting:

  1. Common Area maintenance (CAM): This refers to the money that is paid by the tenants to the landlord so that property taxes can be covered, as well as insurance and maintenance.
  2. CPI: This is the Consumer Price Index, which is often used to calculate the increase in annual rent that can compensate inflation.
  3. Estoppel Certificate: This a signed letter that is provided by the tenant confirming his/her agreement to the rent and terms and conditions.
  4. Gross lease: This means the lease in which the tenants only pay the rent while the landlord pays the taxes, insurance and any cost for maintenance.

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